Comments on: Sharing a Ride Before Sharing Their Bikeshttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/
Blogging From the Five BoroughsThu, 06 Oct 2011 16:51:56 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/NytSectionHeader.gifNYThttp://www.nytimes.com
By: leagenl zealnhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-705019
Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:10:29 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-705019Thank you for writing such an appealing post.Cab Share
Normall I see the same thing and it starts to get on my nearves.
]]>By: Greg Fisherhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-563643
Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:58:40 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-563643BY keeping the electric car lightweight as possible, solar power is viable. The Animas quadracycle can be recharged from just a few PV panels, but does not carry them because of the weight. That is the closest thing to a solar car we can design at this time. Given our grasp of superconductors and of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, that may be the best we can do right now.
]]>By: Greg Fisherhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-559563
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:08:06 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-559563How about 4 wheeled pedal machines?
will they be considered dangerous? Story idea: about 4 wheeled vehicles would be interesting. the Animas quadracycle is being developed for the future Medium Speed Vehicle class.
]]>By: Phil Da Thrillhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-555167
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:32:28 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-555167I live about 1 1/2 miles from the worksman factory, and over the Summer I purchased myself a cruiser bike. I have to say Wayne Sosin is a totally cool guy and was stoked that I was a guy from the neighborhood coming in to purchase a bike.

Now, I basically use the bike to run to the store, or go to the barber shop to get my tape ups. Sometimes I’ll cruise down to Jamaica Bay a ride along the water front. THIS IS NOT A BIKE FOR LONG DISTANCE RIDING! If you are looking for a bike to cruise neighborhood or the Rockaway boardwalk, then this is a great bike. I’ll give the Princeton crew props for trying to take these bikes on a long distance ride, though.

]]>By: Werckx Manhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-554875
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:22:16 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-554875If “core sales dipped 30 percent in 2008″ at Worksman, why did a 2008 article (below) say “business is booming at Worksman. The company won’t reveal how many bikes it sells annually, but Sosin says sales are up 10 percent from last year” ? One could imagine a factory where low-cost components are assembled and painted.

The problem with made-in-Asia bikes is that they are practically disposable nowadays, which explains the propensity of college students to simply abandon them in a rack when they graduate. They’re quite the eyesore.

It will be interesting to see whether this program works out. There was a shared bicycle program in Princeton called Free Wheels, a decade ago, and it failed. All of the yellow-painted renovated bikes gradually melted away, leaving only memories of wobbly wheels and flat tires.

]]>By: scotthttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-554797
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:11:36 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-554797Such negativity around here! Why are we dumping on the decision to support hand-crafted AMERICAN-MADE products?! Ridiculous. The most positive articles always seem to arouse the most negative nancies. Everyone has an axe to grind, I guess.
]]>By: Phil McDonaldhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-554707
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:47:18 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-554707#20, some of us think it’s a wasted opportunity for the bike makers. They could make decent bikes, maybe out of composite frames. They already added alloy rims, a huge advantage over steel rims, so why do they keep the rest of the bike from 1950’s models? Heavy bikes are not usually sturdier than well made lighter bikes. As a Manhattan bike messenger, I used a lightweight frame and wheels and did fine even though I weighed over 200 lbs with bag and lock and rode pretty fast over the potholed streets. These bikes shown look like they were made from old plumbing supplies; they will not be used much. Why make clunkers when you can make quality instead?
Also, coaster brakes are very unsafe. You can pick up a lot of speed going downhill and less than perfect use of coaster brakes would often lead to a, long, out of control skid. Caliper brakes work very well when coupled with alloy wheels.
]]>By: mikes9999http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-554187
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:21:31 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-554187Why all the hating on Workman Cycles? Princeton bought sturdy bikes that can take a lot of abuse – sure you can buy cheaper bikes but they probably won’t last a year. Looking at this as a long term investment they made the right choice.
]]>By: Georgehttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553521
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:15:23 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553521#18 – yes the USA can certainly make better bikes than these. How much do you want to pay? A high-end Trek carbon fiber frameset will cost you about $3000. If you want a custom-made Serotta (such as Sen. John Kerry rides) depending on the components it could set you back $15000.

Frankly, some of the best handmade bikes are now made in the USA.

But if you want cheap and strong – you’d be far better off going to Taiwan and China. Which is what Princeton should have done if it weren’t trying to be so “politically correct” by buying a “local” product.

And if they really paid $350 each for these things – they got ripped off!

]]>By: Phil McDonaldhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553425
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:30:01 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553425Can’t the USA make better bikes than these? Heavy bikes last a long time because they are such a pain to use and stay stored instead of being used. $350 buys a pretty good foreign bike. I was a NYC bike messenger for 15 yrs and found a single gear was enough. I agree with el barto that we should be able to manufacture a quality no frills bike for cheaper than these instant clunkers.
]]>By: Jay Thakkarhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553399
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:07:40 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553399Great job guys.
I appreciate ‘Your’ efforts for ‘Our’ soceity.
]]>By: overtaxedhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553387
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:58:40 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553387Given the poor performance of the students, I can’t imagine the bikes will be very popular at Princeton, which is quite hilly, and where the parking lots are all at the bottom of the hill.

But in response to the double tube issue: Princeton has lots of curbs and stairs and is very rough on bikes. Perhaps these will last longer..

]]>By: Johnhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553381
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:53:47 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553381Price is about $350.
]]>By: panda hathttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553373
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:46:39 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553373unfortunately, logistical and technical difficulties delayed the riders over 2 hours in highlands, nj. the group averaged around 10mph, which ain’t too shabby on 50+ lb utility bikes.
]]>By: Oil Companyhttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-553371
Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:44:57 +0000http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sharing-a-ride-before-sharing-their-bikes/#comment-553371Logic says it takes more energy to move a 150 pound human from Princeton to Queens than it takes to move a 55 pound bike from Queens to Princeton. And then there is the energy required to fuel the 150 human plus 55 pound bike from Queens to Princeton.
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